When to plant in Santa Barbara, CA
USDA Zone 10bSanta Barbara, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With only about -7 frost-free days, Santa Barbara has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. In zone 10b, frost is a minor factor for Santa Barbara — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
Frost probability
SANTA BARBARA · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Santa Barbara’s own odds, recorded at SANTA BARBARA.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 21 | Jan 11 | Dec 12 | Dec 5 | Dec 30 | Feb 10 |
| 32°F | Feb 24 | Jan 13 | Dec 12 | Dec 12 | Jan 6 | Feb 22 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.
Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Santa Barbara, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 14 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Santa Barbara planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Santa Barbara, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Santa Barbara around January 13 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Santa Barbara, CA?
The first fall frost in Santa Barbara typically arrives around January 6 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Santa Barbara in?
Santa Barbara is in USDA hardiness zone 10b. In zone 10b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara has about -7 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (January 13) and first fall frost (January 6).
When should I plant tomatoes in Santa Barbara?
For Santa Barbara, sow tomatoes indoors about November 18–December 2 and move the seedlings out around January 20, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Santa Barbara
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Santa Barbara’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Eastern Goleta Valley · 8 km
- University of California-Santa Barbara · 12 km
- Isla Vista · 14 km
- Goleta · 14 km
- Carpinteria · 20 km
- San Buenaventura (Ventura) · 45 km
- Oxnard · 52 km
- Port Hueneme · 54 km
Frost dates recorded at SANTA BARBARA, 3 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Santa Barbara, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00047902. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/santa-barbara.